Identify opportunities for ICT to increase the efficiency of biomass supply chains for the bio-based industry - BBI.2017.S2

CALL EXPIRED
Deadline: 07 Sep 2017

Rural Development

Bioenergy

Biofuels

IT

IT Applications

Industrial Manufacturing

Horizon2020

Internet of Things

Specific Challenge:

The implementation of bio-based value chains on large scale, fed by a diversified feedstock portfolio, requires effective supply chains able to reduce biomass losses, limit costs and enhance the overall sustainability of the value chains.

Biomass suppliers and technology providers need to jointly provide significant improvements in logistical issues such as biomass supply, collection, storage and the preparatory steps towards biorefining. Introducing and/or increasing the application of information and communications technology (ICT) and tools could provide the desired efficiency improvements. These tools are already playing a role in forestry1 and this experience could serve as example for the bio-based industry supply chain.

Applying ICT will also provide links with ‘the internet of things’ and Industry 4.0 (the current trend for automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies). Efficiency gains will result in the creation of sustainable value chains.

The specific challenge is to identify opportunities for the introduction of ICT to increase the efficiency and sustainability of biomass supply chains for the bio-based industry. Sustainable feedstock supply chains will permit the creation of sustainable bio-based value chains, which could serve as engines for the economic development of rural areas.

Identify feasible opportunities for ICT to improve the efficiency and sustainability of supply chains through cooperation between biomass suppliers and technology providers.

Proposals should cover several supply chains handling different kinds of biomass coming from multiple sources. Proposals should include a description of the (combined) feedstock and its potential for sustainable value chains.

Proposals should also assess the efficiency and sustainability improvements of logistical supply chains by applying the proposed ICT solutions, including also biomass resource modelling.

Proposals should also address the assembly and financing of new and technically improved equipment possibly required to collect and store feedstock for the bio-based industry, in the short time window after harvesting.

The industry should actively participate to help prove the benefits of the project results to the full bio-based sector.

Indicative funding: It is considered that proposals requesting a contribution of maximally EUR 1 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.